Sometimes, we read in the Old Testament about events, people, and things, wondering its significance. But, if we keep reading, we will often see why they are there. Brent discusses one of those today.
Brent Pollard
An intriguing aspect of the Day of Atonement—frequently neglected—is the significance of the scapegoat. In Leviticus 16.10, the English Standard Version designates the scapegoat as Azazel. In contemporary discourse, scapegoat refers to an individual unjustly laden with blame during strife or turmoil. Remarkably, that concept traces back to the holy observance established by the Lord for the Day of Atonement.
We often focus on the goat whose blood the priest sprinkles on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16.15). And rightly so—this initial offering represented reconciliation, a blessing we yearn for profoundly. A definition of atonement is “making amends by offering something of equal value for a wrong done.” To put it succinctly, because the result of wrongdoing is death (Romans 6.23), the goat’s demise satisfied God’s just wrath.
However, the second goat—the one designated for removal—holds an equally important significance. Once offering the initial goat, the High Priest placed his hands upon the head of the scapegoat, proclaiming the people’s transgressions before releasing it into the wilderness (Leviticus 16.21–22). I have a deep appreciation for the way the NASB1995 translates verse 22:
“The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”
This vivid image reminds me of Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” While this imagery may not resonate with flat-earthers, round-earthers understand that traveling east or west never ends—you never “arrive.” Similarly, the scapegoat symbolically carried the people’s sins to a distant place where they could never return.
The significance for Christians is deeply impactful. The Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, offered His blood, establishing a lasting atonement for our transgressions (1 John 2.2; see Hebrews 9.12; 10.10). Yet He also embodied the scapegoat—removing our sins (see 1 John 3.5). Both were essential for our purpose. For reconciliation, death was necessary; therefore, Jesus took on the role of our Paschal Lamb. However, reconciliation with the Divine necessitated the removal of sin—and it is in this context, the symbolism of the scapegoat fulfills its purpose.
Ultimately, the scapegoat is extremely important to believers. It reminds us that Jesus paid the price for our sins and took them away altogether. Jesus bridges the gap between us and God by dying and absolving our sins. He is both the slain Lamb and the scapegoat who carried our sins away. Through this dual work, we experience forgiveness, freedom, and reconciliation—a gift we should never take for granted.
Scripture shapes our understanding of the Father. Yet, we often fall into the habit of crafting our own version of God in our minds. Someone once said, “You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people as you do.” We tend to justify our shortcomings or find excuses to dismiss our poor choices. This inclination is all too natural.
Take our son Rich, for example. Whenever he gets caught doing something he shouldn’t, he blames the dog. One time, I walked into the kitchen to find him covered in Nutella, his hand buried deep in the jar. His first instinct? To convince me that the dog was responsible, not him. This behavior is a common human tendency—to rationalize our actions.
To be human is to have enemies. Chances are, you know someone you struggle to love, or you know someone who doesn’t love you. Jesus assumes we will encounter enemies when He instructs us to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). The real question isn’t whether we will have enemies; it’s whether we will love and forgive, even at a great cost.
In 1 Samuel 24, we meet two very different men: Saul, the jealous and paranoid king, and David, the humble and courageous king. The lesson here is encapsulated in what David says in verse 12: “Let the Lord judge.” This highlights the power of a clean conscience.
As we explore this chapter, pay attention to David’s demeanor. While Saul hunts him like a dog, David is forced to hide in a cave, running for his life. When given a chance that most would seize, he chooses restraint. Why? This scripture offers profound insight into how God’s people should respond to opposition.
First, we learn from David to not take revenge (verses 4-7). Of all the places Saul could have gone to relieve himself, he chose the very spot where David and his men were hiding. Had it been anyone else, Saul would have met his end there. David’s men urged him in verse 4, “This is the day the Lord told you about when He said, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do whatever you want to him.’” While David had every right to harm Saul—after all, he was the rightful king of Israel—he chose not to.
This sort of self-control seems rare today. When given the chance to retaliate against our enemies, we often leap at it, especially when we feel justified. The principle of “an eye for an eye” is far easier than forgiveness and self-restraint. David was tempted; he crept closer and even cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Yet, as we see in verse 5, he felt remorse. A clean conscience mattered to David—he couldn’t harm the Lord’s anointed.
Despite Saul’s many attempts to kill him, David recognizes that it’s not about personal grievances. We often fixate on the pain others cause us and forget an essential truth: they, too, are chosen by God, created in His image. If they are Christians, they are redeemed by Christ; if not, they desperately need the Gospel. If we could look past our hurt, we would see their need for love and forgiveness.
Like David, we must be cautious of those who urge us to act on our natural instincts for revenge. Even well-intentioned friends may encourage us to justify bad behavior. If anyone tries to twist God’s command to love and forgive, be careful. God will never lead you to take revenge.
Second, we learn from David to make the first move (verses 8-15). David runs after Saul to clarify and resolve their conflict, risking much in the process. Communication is key in reconciliation. We often wait for the other person to reach out, especially if we believe they are in the wrong. We might think, “I won’t forgive until they ask for it.” However, being a Christian means embracing the unnatural. God equips us with the strength and courage to approach our enemies first.
David confronts Saul’s worries in verse 9, asking, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm?’” Conflicts often arise from misunderstandings or misinformation. David clarifies his intentions in verse 13, stating, “But my hand shall not be against you.” The longer a conflict festers, the more distorted our views become. We must strive to clarify our motives as we seek reconciliation.
Who are you avoiding that you should pursue? Are you waiting for them to make the first move? Instead, take the initiative to clarify the situation and gently confront any misconceptions.
Finally, we learn from David to commit to doing good (verses 16-22). David and Saul reach an agreement, though Saul’s promise doesn’t last long; he soon returns to hunt David with 3,000 men. Yet, David remains committed to doing good for Saul and his household for as long as he is king. This commitment is evident in how David responds to Saul’s death (2 Sam. 1:17–27) and in the story of Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9).
True reconciliation is marked by ongoing love and kindness. Conflict gives us an opportunity to grow closer, deepen our understanding of ourselves and others, and glorify God. If a genuine commitment to do good isn’t reached, then reconciliation hasn’t truly occurred. C.S. Lewis once noted, “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.”
Many of us cherish the idea of reconciliation, but when it comes time to act, we find it challenging.
Despite living in a cave and constantly on the run, David slept peacefully, knowing it wasn’t about him. His mindset was clear: “Let the Lord be my Judge.” God sees your behavior and stands by you. Let Him be your Judge and maintain a clean conscience.
David exemplifies this mindset in action. He resisted harming Saul, took the initiative, and sought the good of his enemy. We have much to learn from him.
Reading comments on social media posts is bound to irritate you, like an eyelash that has gotten into your eye. People frequently share the most repulsive thoughts hidden in their hearts on the internet because of the relative anonymity it provides. I have seen the same confirmed regarding the recent Hamas-led assault against Israel. People are trying to gloss over the actions of terrorists by equating them to the alleged occupation of Jews in the region since the creation of the nation-state of Israel in 1948.
This defense of terrorism is an equivocation. Though the creation of the Israel nation-state indeed allowed many Jews of the diaspora to return, it is naive to believe that no Jews lived in the region before May 1948. Indeed, records show that at least 600,000 Jews lived in Jerusalem before David Ben Gurion became Israel’s first Prime Minister. There were even enough Jews present in 1909 to create the city of Tel Aviv as a suburb of the Arabic city of Jaffa (Joppa). Thus, framing this argument in terms of colonialism or imperialism or accusing Israelis of perpetuating apartheid against Palestinians is a ridiculous attempt by the enemies of Western culture to validate their radical, often violent ideology.
As a Christian and an earthly citizen of the United States, it would be easy for me to sit back and watch things play out on the evening news. I can close my eyes and say that this does not concern me, even though the United States has previously been subject to jihadi attacks. But I am only fooling myself. I saw the pro-Palestinian protesters in New York City and other metropolitan areas brandishing Nazi swastikas and using the “Free Palestine: From the River to the Sea” slogan. This current protest is not about a two-state solution. Instead, these protests openly advocate for eliminating the Jewish presence in Israel. And if that sounds ominous, consider that pro-Palestinian protesters in Australia were on video chanting, “Gas the Jews.”
But allow me to play the devil’s advocate. What if the Jews have committed atrocities against Palestinians? What then? Would the type of violence we witnessed be acceptable? The Jewish and Arab concepts of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth notwithstanding, we know what one Jew from Nazareth taught. When the rabble Judas led came to arrest Jesus, impetuous Peter pulled his sword and cut off Malchus’ ear (John 18.10). Jesus, the Jew under consideration, told Peter to put his sword away. Note Matthew’s account of these events in Matthew 26.51–53:
And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (NASB)
Jesus sought to contrast His followers with those coming to arrest Him. Those men Judas led had swords and clubs. And Jesus asked them why they treated Him like He was the leader of some revolt (see Matthew 26.55). This mob did not need to threaten His person with physical violence. Jesus was not going to fight them. If He wanted to, Jesus could have called for 72,000 angels to protect Him (Matthew 26.53). However, 72,000 angels would have been overkill. With but one angel, God slew 185,000 Assyrians that had come to attack King Hezekiah (see 2 Kings 19.35).
Jesus acknowledged the legitimacy of the other sword, which was present, and had come to arrest Him in this moment of the “two swords,” even though His arrest was unjust (see Romans 13.4; John 18.3). In other words, Jesus recognized and submitted to the authority of the Romans. As He told Pilate, the spiritual nature of His Kingdom meant that His servants would not fight (see John 18.36).
Though Jesus did not teach us to be doormats, He reminded us to “turn the other cheek” when the situation requires it (Matthew 5.39). If you observe the text from Matthew 26 again, Jesus did not tell Peter to disarm himself but to put his sword back in its place. Again, this was not a time for violence. Jesus was aware of the bigger picture and the larger purpose of His mission. Jesus knew that resorting to violence at that moment would detract from His more excellent message and mission. One can apply this strategy to any cause; the methods used to advance a cause can significantly impact the perception and success of the cause itself. Jesus knew that His path required that His enemies lift Him up so He could draw the world to Himself (see John 12.31–33).
Hence, even if we were to say that Israelis “earned” the violence dealt to them by Hamas, the methods used to advance the cause—beheading babies, raping women, killing the elderly—impact public perception of their alleged cause. It sours the stomach and jaundices the eye. It’s better to walk the path of nonviolent resistance than give your detractors the rationale they need to justify their violent retribution against you. And in the days ahead, we will no doubt see much more violence in Gaza.
As we continue to follow the unfolding events between Israel and Hamas, we must learn the lessons that history and the Bible have to teach us about violence and the repercussions of our actions and beliefs. The advice to avoid escalation and seek understanding is universally applicable, regardless of whether we are policymakers, commentators, or observers. Wisdom and compassion pave the way to long-lasting solutions, while violence breeds more violence irrespective of the justification or historical context. We can only hope that the leaders of all parties learn from history and pursue paths that lead to peace, reconciliation, and coexistence.
Isaiah 65.17-25 is interesting. Some have mistakenly concluded that it is a prophecy of Christ’s “millennial kingdom” because it resembles passages in John’s revelation. However, we might agree that it refers to the millennium only if others use that term to describe the entire period between Jesus Christ’s two advents.
Contextually, this prophecy appears alongside others concerning the church or the kingdom. Paul summarizes the blessings God promised Isaiah in this passage: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1.3 NASB1995).
And we’ve been in these final days since Pentecost (Acts 2.16-21). As a result, we should not be surprised by its longevity (i.e., more than two millennia and counting) because God metaphorically predicted that its cohorts would live a long time (Isaiah 65.20). Furthermore, this extension is advantageous because it provides opportunities for those who need to repent (cf. 2 Peter 3.9).
But what does Isaiah 65:25 mean by the wolf eating with the lamb? Because wolves and lambs are predators and prey, people assume it must refer to the millennial kingdom. Otherwise, the wolves would be the ones devouring the lambs. So, we can’t discuss anything current. Nonetheless, they fail to remember that there once existed a time when wolves and lambs ate together. They did so on the ark that God instructed Noah to build. The ark served as God’s refuge during His wrath.
Today, the church serves as that refuge. Even when wolves are nearby, lambs will still be able to eat within that place of safety. Some people believe God’s providence protects His children, so they have no fear despite living in a wolf-infested world. Others argue that because God changes the obedient’s nature through the Gospel, the wolves and lambs can eat together within the church because their personalities have changed. They are brand-new creatures (2 Corinthians 5.17). All of these interpretations are correct, but there is an intriguing corollary.
Who was the primary apostle to the Gentiles? Peter’s sermon converted the first Gentiles (Acts 10.34ff), but the Lord chose to send Paul to the Gentiles (Acts 26.17). Jesus tore down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2.13-15), allowing those like Paul to welcome the Gentiles into Zion (cf. Isaiah 62.1-3). However, what do we know about Paul’s history? Paul belonged to the Benjamite tribe.
God allowed Israel to prophesy his sons’ futures as he lay dying (Genesis 49.1-27). According to Jacob, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And in the evening he divides the spoil” (Genesis 49.27 NASB1995). Paul was thus a ravenous wolf whose conversion caused him to eat with the lambs (Acts 20.7). No longer a church persecutor content to put Christians to death for their crime of faith in Jesus, Paul became Christ’s ambassador to increase the flock of Christ.
A true example of the wolf eating with the lamb is found only in God’s kingdom, the church.
If we will ever share Christ with anyone, it will be the product of some motivator. It may be romantic love, if we are trying to win a potential mate. It could be a sense of Christian duty. It might be a profound sense of love and gratitude for our own salvation. Bible writers are often trying to guide us to appreciate the value of being motivated to share the good news. That is what Paul does in 2 Corinthians 5. Paul, who has been defending the work he and his fellow-laborers have been doing as servants of Christ, moves to the broader consideration of what should move us to share Him with others. Motivation is key to involvement. Often, when I see the importance of my personal involvement in spreading Christ to others, it will touch my heart and open my lips. What motives should move us?
THE TERROR OF THE LORD (11)
This actually connects back to verse 10. There’s a great day coming, and all of us will be judged. If one is unprepared for that day, he or she should rightfully feel terrified. Knowing the terror facing those not ready to face Jesus, we persuade men.
PERSONAL INTEGRITY (12-13)
Paul saw his involvement in reaching souls as a matter of personal integrity and honor. These spiritual servants shared Christ for God and for them (13). Soul-winning is our responsibility, and we should realize our character is at stake.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST (14-16)
One of the most important and transforming truths is that Christ loves everyone. In fact, Paul says “the love of Christ controls us” (14). He proved that love by dying for all so that all could be reconciled (see 17-19). All are dead outside of Christ, but He can make men spiritually alive. That love for us and them should move us.
THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF RECONCILIATION (17-19)
Anyone in Christ is a new creation (17). He reconciled us to Himself, and then gave us the ministry of reconciliation (18). He entrusted us with the message of reconciliation (19). We are offering people the ability to restore their relationship with God. Think of the peace, relief, and joy we can bring into people’s lives by offering them the hope of Christ!
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST (20)
God has given us the job of representing Him to men. He makes His appeal through us. We implore others on behalf of Christ to be reconciled. That doesn’t make us important, but it does mean our job could not be more important!
THE FACT THAT WE ARE MADE RIGHTEOUS IN HIM (21)
Christ is our substitute sacrifice, as He is for the people we need to reach. He makes us righteous through Himself. Knowing that God looks at a saved soul and sees purity and righteousness is powerful! That’s what He sees when He looks at us, covered in Christ. It’s what He sees when He looks at everyone covered in Christ. I want for others what I myself have been given!
This isn’t the totality of our motivation, but if this was an exhaustive list it would be enough! Suffice it to say that I don’t lack reasons for sharing my faith. The reasons are diverse, but each is significant by itself. Let’s pray for wisdom, courage, and tenderness of heart to be God’s voice and hands in reconciling the world to Him.
This week we will do a brief study of I Peter 3.17-22.
In verse 17, the emphasis in the original text is “doing good.” If it is God’s desire (this is emphasized) that we suffer, it is better (stronger, more prominent, more advantageous) that we suffer for doing good works than evil works. How much more powerful a message do we send when we come under fire for doing something that benefits others? If we suffer for doing something bad, we’re just another criminal. But to suffer in the act of doing something good – in context – is a far more powerful evangelistic tool.
In the following verses, Peter gives a powerful example of Christ’s focus on getting rid of sin. He put everything into saving mankind – including giving His own life – so that we could all have the opportunity to come to God. Even before the destruction of the world through the flood He made sure everything had the opportunity to hear about their spiritual state. Whether this was done through Noah and his sons or whether He had a more direct hand in this is immaterial. The point of the text is that the message got out to those who are “now in prison.” His goal was to bring others to God, even when it caused Him suffering.
Only those who did listen and obey – eight people – were rescued from evil by the waters of the flood. Notice that the Spirit does not record Noah’s ark as being what saved them! They were saved in the important sense by the destruction of evil. Our focus is not earthly.
Just as water saved Noah and his family from evil, water saves us from spiritual death. Being immersed in water is how we make a formal appeal to God for a clear conscience! Some translations render this, “A promise to God from a good conscience,” as if baptism is some kind of outward sign of an inward faith. This is not reflected in Greek; it is a conscience cleared by an appeal to God, because of the resurrection of Jesus. He has all power, so He can clear our record when we submit to Him.
Having all of this as a background, we have some motivation to keep our actions pure, suffer for doing good things, and understand that God’s power is what saves us. Peter gives many other phenomenal motivators for living a pure life, which we will look at in detail in the coming weeks.
It was September 24, 1869. The Civll War was barely an excruciating national memory and the nation was rebuilding. That specific day was a Friday, the day a cruel scheme by two Wall Street investors was discovered and led to an implosion of the Stock Market. It was referred to as “Black Friday.” The tie of this term to the Christmas shopping season is also surprising. In the 1950s, the Philadelphia police department used the phrase to describe the mayhem brought by the combination of suburban shoppers, tourists, attendees of the Army-Navy football game, and increased shoplifting in stores. They would have to work extra-long shifts this day after Thanksgiving. It was a derogatory term until relatively recently, when retailers in the late 1980s co-opted the expression to depict the day as the day retailers were trying to take their businesses from the “red” to the “black.” This meant bargains for shoppers, the best day to get out and shop and spend. While the advent of online shopping and retail promotions have created new and additional days of holiday shopping deals, “Black Friday” still symbolizes the happy time of “the most wonderful time of the year” (information from Sarah Pruitt, History Channel).
For the Christian, black Friday was the day darkness fell over the whole land of Palestine around 30 A.D. (Mat. 27:45). It had to take place to save humanity who were sitting in the darkness of sin (Mat. 4:16) facing the grim prospect of eternal, outer darkness (Mat. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). It was a horrible day. It was a day of seeming loss, with Jesus’ followers sensing total defeat. Jesus was undergoing six hours of horrific torture before succumbing to death. Satan seemed victorious. But God, according to His eternal, humbling, and essential plan, took that day of darkness and defeat and used it to bring the only profit that ultimately matters. It was actually a day of triumph (Col. 2:15). It became a day of victory for us (1 John 5:4). What turned that day from sorrow to joy was the Sunday that followed that Friday. That Friday death was God’s gift to the whole world, and it profits anyone who responds to it by obedient faith (Rom. 6).
This Sunday (and every Sunday), we get to celebrate this gift and what it means to us when we take the Lord’s Supper. We think back on those dark events, thank God for what they mean to us now, and look ahead with hope and assurance to what it means for our eternal destiny. It was a day of defeat, but God transformed it into the day of victory!
Marge Singleton and Merle Kilgore cowrote a song that was a hit for Teresa Brewer at the end of the “doo wop” era, entitled “He Understands Me.”The heart of the lyrics, which are repeated, is: “He understands me the way you never did. He loves me the way you never did.
He takes the time to notice I’m around. He builds me up, he never lets me down.” This is obviously a song about young love and a young woman who has found somebody much better than her “ex.” This is the age old complaint of many a man and woman, of feeling taken for granted.
But in the most important relationship you can have, you have Someone who understands you better than you understand you. He wants a relationship with you and He went further to prove it than anyone else ever will or could. He left a place of safety to suffer. He left a position of supremacy to be a servant. He left the peer-ship of sovereignty for submission. He limited Himself to humanity without surrendering His deity to save the most important of every person, including you.Because He successfully navigated the perils of this life, He can offer you eternal life.
Meanwhile, there are daily benefits for you because “the Word became flesh” (John 1:1-2,14).
Intercession. Paul says, “Who is the one who condemns (cf. lays a charge against God’s elect, 33)? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Rom. 8:34). The Hebrews’ writer adds, “He always lives to make intercession for [those who draw near to God through Him]” (Heb. 7:25). He earnestly appeals to God with urgency and intensity for you. Try to picture that. He’s addressing God for you!
Intervention. Hebrews 2, which warns against the possibility of drifting away from Jesus, gives a multitude of reasons why you would never want to do that. One reason was He became one of us to die for us (9). His appearance here helped Him understand by experience your struggles (10). He claims you as spiritual family (11-13). He went to war with the devil for you and won (14-15). He gives you help (16). He paved the way for God’s favor toward you (17). The writer says He had to become one of us to be a “merciful and faithful high priest…,” and being tempted “He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (17-18). When you appeal to Him for help, He will!
Invitation. Knowing that Jesus has been through what you’ve been through, by itself, is comforting. Hebrews 4:15 says your high priest sympathizes with your weaknesses, having been tempted in all things like you are except that He never sinned. Those facts lead to a consequence, signaled by the “therefore” of verse 16. Because Jesus successfully took your place, you get to go someplace you otherwise never could! You can go directly to the Father’s throne of grace. You can do so confidently (boldly!). When you do, you will not only find “help” (same word as “aid” in 2:18) but you also grab hold of mercy and grace. You can step inside the greatest power source in the universe for help, pity, and favor, and you are invited to do so!
Do you know why you have intercession, intervention, and invitation? Because He understands you! He’s been through what you’ve been through. He knows. He gets it. But, combined with that, “He is able” (Heb. 7:25)! Are you taking advantage of these benefits? Why would any of us neglect to do so?
To the Devil, the scribes, and Pharisees, a sign of their supposed victory (Heb. 2:14; John 19:6ff).
To the mob, apparent weakness (Mat. 27:42).
To the disciples, seeming defeat (John 21:3).
To those who lived rebelliously, nothing (1 Cor. 1:17).
To those who died in disobedience, an essential but missing element (cf. John 6:53).
To those who lived obediently, atonement (Eph. 1:7).
To those who died having walked in the light, everything (1 Jn. 1:7).
Untold millions are unaware of the value of the blood of Jesus. You and I must decide what the blood of Jesus means to us. Interestingly, in four different ways, the Bible tells us that what the blood does for us we obtain the benefit of through baptism.
—The blood of Christ sanctifies (Heb. 13:12). We are sanctified by baptism (Eph. 5:25-27).
—The blood of Christ washes away sins (Rev. 1:5-6). Sins are washed away at baptism (Acts 22:16).
—The blood of Christ remits sins (Mat. 26:28). Sins are remitted through baptism (Acts 2:38).
—Jesus shed His blood in His death (John 19:34). We contact the dead of Jesus at baptism (Romans 6:3-4).
The Bible makes clear not just what the blood of Christ means to our souls, but also how we get the benefit of that blood. May we do what God says do to receive the benefits of Jesus’ blood and continue to walk in the light of Christ in order to have that blood continually cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:7).
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